Cosmos: The Idea Thread

[Ariel Hapzid]

A bit ago, I was working on a Science Fiction Roleplaying setting, now I've decided to take some of that and instead create a more Science Fantasy setting. First of all, I am a fan of Soft Science Fiction, and this is going to be that way. Instead of technology this universe is built on magic.

In fact, the very first stepping stone of this setting is one of Larry Niven's many laws: "Any sufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology." Once we begin with that very simple principle then it makes the setting a little easier.

I understand that a Magical Science Fiction setting isn't for everyone, and to that I have nothing to say, the best thing I can do is take your advice and move on. I plan on posting this a bit on Obsidian Portal, and making myself a Wiki, but for now I'm just cooking up idea and listening to feedback. I'd also be interested in hearing suggestions or suggested readings.

The first Trope that I wanted to work with was Space Travel and FTL travel. Travel between planets, solar systems and galaxies is accomplished with Portals. These Portals are 8 feet X 3 1/2 feet. Portals like roads, designed to only go to specific destinations. The Map of the Galaxy is not very accurate at all because it is based on the pathways of the Portals not an actual map of a galaxy. In fact the map will look a little something like this:  http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20070627/a1509_1198.1.jjr.fob.jpg  

Aliens: Lots of them, in fact I doubt there will be humans. There will probably be a pretty human race, but mostly alien.

Sorcery and Swords: No ray guns, no guns (they are very shoddy of a renaissance level)

No Starfleet: In my opinion, the big downside of Star Trek is the fact that it focuses in on the Para-Military Starfleet and not so much on civilians. Stories will focus on merchants, adventurers, and other private citizens. In fact, the players will more then likely be apart of the Arbogast Expeditions, a foundation dedicated to mapping the portals and discovering their origins.

That's all for now... Still working on aliens and things like that. It's important that I don't rely too much made up words, although they will be included, all Alien languages are translated into Common. So one example are the Children of the Light, dedicated to their god and spreading the word and putting an end to heretics. (in their language they call themselves Dolari)

[Stargate525]

The first Trope that I wanted to work with was Space Travel and FTL travel. Travel between planets, solar systems and galaxies is accomplished with Portals. These Portals are 8 feet X 3 1/2 feet. Portals like roads, designed to only go to specific destinations. The Map of the Galaxy is not very accurate at all because it is based on the pathways of the Portals not an actual map of a galaxy. In fact the map will look a little something like this:  http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20070627/a1509_1198.1.jjr.fob.jpg  

Two suggestions;

Firstly, I'd suggest that these things be bigger in size. For an inter-planetary economy, 28 square foot portal probably won't cut it. I'd suggest making them at least fifteen feet in diameter.

Secondly, I also think that you need to account that the gate system, as you lay it out, is inefficient. You also mention aliens. If we assume a city-state type of international situation, are the gates all standardized?

Aliens: Lots of them, in fact I doubt there will be humans. There will probably be a pretty human race, but mostly alien.

Define alien. Are we talking rubber-forehead aliens, or starfish aliens?

No Starfleet: In my opinion, the big downside of Star Trek is the fact that it focuses in on the Para-Military Starfleet and not so much on civilians. Stories will focus on merchants, adventurers, and other private citizens. In fact, the players will more then likely be apart of the Arbogast Expeditions, a foundation dedicated to mapping the portals and discovering their origins.

Interesting. Although I'm wondering why you don't consider these expeditions being the people whose job it is to SET UP THE GATES. Any kind of portal system seems to always assume that the gates are some ancient technology. Why not the crowning achievement of a cabal of extremely talented mages?

[Ariel Hapzid]

Why should the portals be so big? My idea for the portals is that they were created by beings roughly the size of these portals. In my opinion they would find creating a fifteen foot portal a waste. The reason for this is that the portals act just like the door to my bedroom does, it's just a doorway into the hall. No cool splashy effects.

Think of this also, the smaller portals keep the portals from being used as invasion points. You can't drive a tank through them and invade a neighboring planet. Or in this magical sense, you can't ride a huge dragon into the portal. When most people want to move large amounts of stuff through the portals they first cast Shrink Item on the object. This helps me in  two ways:

1. It allows me to illustrate how common magic is, it's as common as a blackberry.

2. It allows me to hide these portals, it's harder for me to hide a 15' portal then it is one that's the size of a door.

As for the aliens, expect to see a large variety of aliens, some inspired some strange.

The Gates are already set up and running. The reason I didn't have it focus on people building the gates is because: I don't want there to be Faster Than Light Travel, so how did these Wizards get to the planet in the first place? The reason I am going with the ancient magic (not technology) is because it opens up for exploration adventures not installation adventures.

[Ariel Hapzid]

And my Gate system isn't inefficient it's just not the way you what you want it to be.

Which brings me to the most important key to this Campaign Setting and all campaign settings: This is how it is in MY game, it doesn't have to be in YOUR game. I'm just coming up with ideas and throwing them into these threads.

[Llum]

I hate to intrude, your right it is your game 100%, but a small portal is inefficient for anything large scale.

You can't transport large things across planets, this makes it difficult because you can't bring heavy equipment.

To move large groups of people makes it very difficult, while your correct that this prevents outright invasion, it would also encourage assassination (the most efficient way to strike at people on other planets), bombs and such things.

Evacuation, colonization and trading would also be hindered. Transporting a hundred colonists would take a lot of organization, time and effort. Trade caravans without the benefit of a wagon (maybe pony/mule equivalent) makes trading goods that aren't small and valuable harder (so jewelry, small tech (blackberries :p) and rare items would be about it.

Any particular reason you chose to use the OP wiki over the CBG wiki? I've used both so I'm curious about your opinion.

Also, would you care to link to the OP wiki if you decide to make one?

I'm curious as to why you removed humans? Is it because you couldn't find a way to fit them in to your liking?

[Stargate525]

Why should the portals be so big? My idea for the portals is that they were created by beings roughly the size of these portals. In my opinion they would find creating a fifteen foot portal a waste. The reason for this is that the portals act just like the door to my bedroom does, it's just a doorway into the hall. No cool splashy effects.

Okay. Fine. How many of these are on a planet. Unless you say 'several dozen to the same location,' no trade can really take place inter-planet. Look at the trade caravans of the medieval era; several dozen pack animals loaded with goods, not to mention the people.

A better example. Imagine every semi leaving a city having to ship all their stuff through something slightly wider than a doorframe. Just because the aliens are that big does not mean that they wouldn't build larger. Look at garages, cars, buggies, chariots for a few examples about why that's the case.

Think of this also, the smaller portals keep the portals from being used as invasion points. You can't drive a tank through them and invade a neighboring planet. Or in this magical sense, you can't ride a huge dragon into the portal. When most people want to move large amounts of stuff through the portals they first cast Shrink Item on the object. This helps me in  two ways:

Doesn't matter. If it's 'like a doorway,' you can't close it effectively, meaning they can simply shove harmful crap through the door, or build a collapsible shielding unit.

The main thing is that it's a choke point. Period. Not just the size of it. Also, why not just shrink animal on the dragon, then dismiss it?

1. It allows me to illustrate how common magic is, it's as common as a blackberry.

2. It allows me to hide these portals, it's harder for me to hide a 15' portal then it is one that's the size of a door.

On a planet, you'd have trouble hiding something the size of a garage door? And if magic's as common as a blackberry, you've probably got more issues than the size of your doors.

The Gates are already set up and running. The reason I didn't have it focus on people building the gates is because: I don't want there to be Faster Than Light Travel, so how did these Wizards get to the planet in the first place? The reason I am going with the ancient magic (not technology) is because it opens up for exploration adventures not installation adventures.

Physician heal thyself. There is no FTL, then how did THE ORIGINAL BUILDERS get them there? Why not simply have the mechanic be a random shot? You still explore, and if the installation is simple, it's not so much an adventure as a simple part of the exploration.

And my Gate system isn't inefficient it's just not the way you what you want it to be.

Which brings me to the most important key to this Campaign Setting and all campaign settings: This is how it is in MY game, it doesn't have to be in YOUR game. I'm just coming up with ideas and throwing them into these threads.

Don't be so defensive. I'm not bashing you, I'm pointing out what I perceive to be flaws. And your system is inefficient for several reasons.

1. Trade. I feel I've outlined that enough already.

2. Utility. Everything has to be broken down to fit in that doorway. You want to explore that ocean? Too bad, you've got to build a ship from raw materials on the planet. No wood? Outta luck.

3. Networking. If each gate goes from one place to the other, there are a few problems. One, you either have long, strung out routes that require several jumps (added this to the size issue and you've got serious congestion issues through the busier planets), or you've got a gate to every other world, creating gigantic hubs that are military liabilities, disasters waiting to happen, annoying cross-continent treks, or a combination of all three. The size change would help that, but not by a whole heap. And if we assume that these gates take some sort of resource to keep going, the size increase outweighs any sort of strategic loss, and if it's the hub system, you're wasting tremendous amounts of resources simply keeping the majority of them open.

[Ariel Hapzid]

OK I apologize for being defensive.

How about they come in all shapes and sizes? The larger ones designed for trade, the smaller ones designed for personal use.

You make a good point about the Ancient Technology, so I am going to roll with the idea of the gates being products of a guild known as House Garrett. It still presents the question of how did they get there in the first place... because I am picturing these as working a whole lot like a telephone, you can't call a house that doesn't have one.

Possibly these different planets were driven to create the portals driven by forces they cannot even understand. They dreamed up the plans, created the magic, and opened portals across the cosmos.

Or possibly Magonauts were catapulted into the cosmos and sent to random planets where they summoned the materials and created the portals hundreds (instead of eons) ago. Creating a new renaissance that spans worlds.  

[Ariel Hapzid]

Planet names:
[spoiler]Viscerma
Meliara
Olora
Carnassus
Tusteus
Pelusane
Phago
Susarnus
Golypide
Iane
Oesol
Xyset
Visane
Visarot
Itacal
Odiatas
Ustho
Dostrovia
Zere
Amon
Cethois
Iaes
Theope
Dasi
Nius
Nothusta
Than
Kron
Gonic
Joreau[/spoiler]

And that's just the first few!

[Stargate525]

How about they come in all shapes and sizes? The larger ones designed for trade, the smaller ones designed for personal use.

That makes a lot more sense.

You make a good point about the Ancient Technology, so I am going to roll with the idea of the gates being products of a guild known as House Garrett. It still presents the question of how did they get there in the first place... because I am picturing these as working a whole lot like a telephone, you can't call a house that doesn't have one.

Possibly these different planets were driven to create the portals driven by forces they cannot even understand. They dreamed up the plans, created the magic, and opened portals across the cosmos.

Have you ever seen the movie Contact? a message is sent out to all intelligent planets (those that produce intelligible radio signals, or something equivalent in your world), which contains the blueprints for the device. They build it, and it connects them into the system. Problem solved. To use your analogy, sending plans for a telephone by message in a bottle.

Or possibly Magonauts were catapulted into the cosmos and sent to random planets where they summoned the materials and created the portals hundreds (instead of eons) ago. Creating a new renaissance that spans worlds.  

That works too.

[Nomadic]

You make a good point about the Ancient Technology, so I am going to roll with the idea of the gates being products of a guild known as House Garrett.

So are you naming the guild after me because gates are a form of travel and I'm a wanderer? :P

[Ariel Hapzid]

Nope, the guild's name comes from the paper that I am using for my notes, a bunch of stationary that says "Garrett Aviation" on it, the company my dad used to work for.

[Ariel Hapzid]

Here's a drawing I did of an Alien, this is what I picture.
It's pretty simple, but it's nice to know that maybe I can start uploading my hand written notes here.
[spoiler=Alien Warrior] [/spoiler]

[Ariel Hapzid]

Another alien I drew in fifteen minutes

 [spoiler] [/spoiler]

[Nomadic]

Nope, the guild's name comes from the paper that I am using for my notes, a bunch of stationary that says "Garrett Aviation" on it, the company my dad used to work for.

I shall completely disregard this and continue to believe it is because you so revere me as a person. Also, the aliens are nice, but where is the crazy weird anatomy? I want less rubber face aliens and more weirdos.

[Ariel Hapzid]

OK. One alien race that I really like are the Chakelops (name pending) they look like slugs with huge maws and tentacles and multiple eyes.